Coal

The power blackout in northern India on two days should not be dismissed or misjudged. Analysts are jumping to conclude that the crisis was foretold. They blame delays caused by environment and forest clearance procedures and demand winding down the regulatory framework so that we can re-energise ourselves. Their other favourite whipping horse is ‘free’ electricity to farmers, which is said to be crippling the state electricity boards. These explanations are naïve and mistaken.

Centre for Science and Environment carried out the technical analysis of the EIA-EMP report of Gare Pelma Block III coal mining and washery. This was on a request from Raghubeer Pradhan of Ekta Parishad. The project is to come up in the Mand-Raigarh coalfields in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh.

The environment is holding up growth and economic development. This is the common refrain in circles that matter. So when the Group of Ministers tasked to resolve the issue of coal mining in forests asked for a report on what needs to be done, it was told that the best would be to dismantle green conditions, almost completely.

CSE released its cover story on the rapid industrialisation in Chhattisgarh on November 15, 2010 at Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The event was organised by Ekta Parishad. The cover was based on a detailed analysis of the proposed industries in the state, their land and water requirement and whether that state will be able to meet this requirement.